2 Corinthians 5:16 & Images

[Kinghezy]

Ed, just responding via a new thread

This post is a bit more of a question than a statement. The context of this verse below has to do with the change wrought in the Christian's thought process at conversion. It is not saying (as a few do) that while on earth we knew Christ after the flesh, but now that He is ascended we know Him in a Spiritual sense. Years ago, I thought this but do so no longer.

1 Corinthians 5:16 [ASV]
Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

My question is, Does this verse have an application to images of Christ and idolatry in general? Does it represent a carnal desire to still think of Christ from a fleshly point of view? Or, does the verse have no application at all to the topic of this thread? Don't be gentle–I can take it.

To note, it appears it is 2 Cor 5:16.

It appears that Matthew Henry thinks so

We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The love of Christ is in our hearts, and the world is under our feet." Note, Good Christians must enjoy the comforts of this life, and their relations in this world, with a holy indifference. Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet, says the apostle, we know him no more. It is questioned whether Paul had seen Christ in the flesh. However, the rest of the apostles had, and so might some among those he was now writing to. However, he would not have them value themselves upon that account; for even the bodily presence of Christ is not to be desired nor doted upon by his disciples. We must live upon his spiritual presence, and the comfort it affords. Note, Those who make images of Christ, and use them in their worship, do not take the way that God has appointed for strengthening their faith and quickening their affections; for it is the will of God that we should not know Christ any more after the flesh.

It also seems like that is supported by the earlier passage "2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (ESV) -- So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight." That's an often quoted verse, and to my chagrin, I have not considered it in light of the 4th commandment.

Calvin talks on this verse.

He states the reason, why it is that we are now absent from the Lord — because we do not as yet see him face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12.) The manner of that absence is this — that God is not openly beheld by us. The reason why he is not seen by us is, that we walk by faith Now it is on good grounds that faith is opposed to sight, because it, perceives those things that are hid from the view of men — because it reaches forth to future things, which do not as yet appear. For such is the condition of believers, that they resemble the dead rather than the living — that they often seem as if they were forsaken by God — that they always have the elements of death shut up within them. Hence they must necessarily hope against hope. (Romans 4:18.) Now the things that are hoped for are hid, as we read in Romans 8:24, and faith is thea manifestation of things which do not appear.
(Hebrews 11:1.)

 

[Ed Walsh]

note, it appears it is 2 Cor 5:1

Thanks for catching that. I fixed it in the original post. Now I'll read what you have to say.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

We need to take a similar path to the first disciples, as we consider Jesus, asking "What manner of man is this?"

They went from regarding him as one like them, to a Teacher, to a great Teacher, to the Greatest Teacher Ever, to the Christ, and eventually to not being able to regard him as a man (no mere man) anymore; but as God. This is generally the path the Gospels take the reader, perhaps Mark above all others.

Being God, we are not free to make images of him. In fact, to insist on doing so, or to argue that such a display might be a good idea, is to take the disciples' path retrograde. It is to reduce Jesus from where we already regard him--as divine--in order to "make him more like us."

But we already begin with Jesus as "like us" as he ever can be, and there's only one direction that we should take the path of discipleship: upward.